Adam Brody Thinks Mischa Barton’s Character on ‘The O.C.’ Shouldn’t Have Died

California, here we come. Adam Brody, who played comic book-loving, good at drawing, sarcastic, Seth Cohen, in Fox’s hit teen drama, The O.C., from 2003 to 2007 recently said the fate of Mischa Barton’s character, Marissa Cooper, should’ve been different. Continue reading to learn why Brody thinks Cooper shouldn’t have died on the show and what he would’ve wanted for the character.

Barton left The O.C. after three seasons. Her character made a dramatic exit from the show when Cooper died in a car accident in the Season 3 finale. Ask any fan of the show and they’ll probably have a strong opinion about what happened. The same goes for the actors who starred on the show.

Adam Brody thinks Marissa Cooper should’ve gone to rehab

He continued, saying he’d rather she go to rehab than die in a car crash.

Adam Brody. | Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

“Put her in rehab! That’s what you did with Shannen Doherty on [Beverly Hills] 90210. Do a rehab season for her. Put her somewhere. It’s fine,” he added.

Mischa Barton ‘fought tooth and nail’ for no happy ending

Upon leaving the successful teen drama, Barton said she didn’t see what else could’ve happened to her character. Truly, Cooper had been through a lot even for a girl on a teen soap opera. She shoplifted, abused alcohol, lived through a major scandal involving her father, her parents’ subsequent divorce … we could go on but you get the idea.

When Barton announced she’d be leaving the show, she worked very hard to have Cooper go out in a way she felt was appropriate and true to the character, the actress told The New York Times earlier this year.

Cast of The O.C. | Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“I fought tooth and nail for that to not happen, because I just don’t think that’s Marissa Cooper,” Barton said referring to a happy ending.

“I just don’t think sailing off into the sunset’s the proper goodbye. She’s one of those burnout characters where I don’t know how much more we could have done with her anyway,” she added.

“Yeah, sure. I’m more than willing to resurrect Marissa and make that happen,” Barton said when asked if she’d be open to a reboot.

But Cooper died. How would that work?

“Maybe she fakes the whole thing,” Barton suggested with a laugh.

Mischa Barton. | Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

The idea seems just plausible enough to work. Fans didn’t see her character’s funeral as the publication pointed out, which gave Barton an idea for her character’s return.

“What if she just shows up to her own funeral? I could so see it. It would be a Marissa Cooper kind of move,” she said.

As for Brody revisiting Cohen in a reboot of The O.C., the 39-year-old actor says he wouldn’t join the cast. “It would have my blessing. As for me, no [I wouldn’t be involved], I’m in another stage in my life,” he told GQ.

Maybe Captain Oats or Princess Sparkle can convince Brody to change his mind. While we wait for a reboot of the show to actually happen, watch Seasons 1-4 of The O.C. on Amazon.